Drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle, set of a cover and such a drink-through spout cap, a drinking device, and methods of manufacturing and preparing a drinking device

ABSTRACT

A drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck, a set of a cover and such a drink-through spout cap, a drinking device including a beverage bottle and a set, and methods of manufacturing or preparing a drinking device. The drink-through spout cap ( 10 ) has a top wall ( 32 ) and a sidewall ( 34 ) extending therefrom, the top wall ( 32 ) being provided with a spout ( 36 ) having an aperture ( 38 ) formed therein. The sidewall ( 34 ) has an inner surface ( 34 A) and an outer surface ( 34 B), the inner surface ( 34 A) being provided with a threaded region ( 40 ) adapted to engage the threaded region ( 42 ) of the bottle ( 12 ). A lip ( 44 ) extends from the top wall ( 32 ) and has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a drink-through spout cap for a beveragebottle, a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap, a pack of atleast two beverage bottles comprising a set of a cover and adrink-through spout cap, a drinking device, a method of manufacturing adrinking device and a method of preparing a drinking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In particular, the invention is related to a drink-through spout cap fora beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening.

Generally, the drink-through spout caps can be attached to a containersuch as baby learning cup, etc.

However, the known drink-through spout caps are provided to be attachedto a corresponding container; therefore, the container needs to befulfilled with the beverage before use. This leads to the manipulationof a first beverage bottle containing the beverage which is emptied inthe container. This manipulation can be difficult depending on where weare, especially for example in the transport like in the bus, becausethe risk of pouring the beverage out of the container. Moreover, thismanipulation can lead to a contamination of the beverage.

Besides, the known drink-through spout caps which can be adapted forseveral kinds of containers are leaking.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

To this aim, it is provided a drink-through spout cap for a beveragebottle, a set of a cover and a drink-through spout cap which is adaptedto be attached to a usual beverage bottle, like water for instance.

To this end, according to the invention, the drink-through spout cap fora beverage bottle has a substantially top wall and a sidewall extendingtherefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall being provided witha spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewall and which hasat least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall having an innersurface and an outer surface, the inner surface being provided with athreaded region adapted to engage the threaded region of the neck of abeverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top wall andhas a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.

In various embodiments of the drink-through spout cap according to theinvention, one and/or the other of the following features may beincorporated in this cover alone or in mutual combination:

the threaded region of the inner surface of the sidewall is athree-start threaded ring;

the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap is preferably cylindricaland has an internal diameter comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm,preferably comprised between 29 mm and 30 mm;

the lip height is comprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between3 mm and 4 mm; the lip is preferably cylindrical;

the spout comprises a front, an upper and a lower wall, the upper andlower walls being connected together and extending both from the topwall of the drink-through spout cap, wherein the upper wall issubstantially flat and the lower wall is curved and wherein the frontwall is provided with the at least one aperture;

the spout is provided with three apertures;

the spout is eccentrically positioned toward the sidewall;

the material of the drink-through spout cap comprises a polypropylene ora polyethylene;

the outer surface of the sidewall is provided with a finger grip;

a cap membrane seal.

The invention concerns also a set of a cover and a drink-through spoutcap, the cover being adapted to be push-fitted over the drink-throughspout cap to protect the spout in cooperating with the sidewall. Thematerial of the cover can comprise a polypropylene or a polyethylene.When the cover is mounted on the drink-through spout cap it ispreferably surrounded by a shrink-wrap.

The invention concerns also a pack of at least two beverage bottlescomprising at least one of the above set. Actually, the pack can containtwo, four, six, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fifteen or sixteen bottles.Each of these bottles and especially when packed in group of twobottles, are sealed with a usual and well-known cap.

The invention concerns also a drinking device comprising a beveragebottle and a set as above mentioned, or comprising a beverage bottle andat least a drink-through spout cap as above mentioned, said bottlehaving a cylindrical body and a cylindrical neck provided with anopening and a threaded region, the bottle being at least partiallyfilled with a beverage. The beverage can be water, juice, milk and/orpowder of milk. The beverage can be specific for babies or not.

In various embodiments of the drinking device according to theinvention, one and/or the other of the following features may beincorporated in this cover alone or in mutual combination:

the material of the bottle comprises a PET;

the bottle has preferably a capacity comprised between 15 cl and 75 cl,preferably comprised between 20 cl and 40 cl; actually, the capacity ofbeverage to be contained in the bottle can be of 15 cl, 20 cl, 25 cl, 33cl, 40 cl, 50 cl or 75 cl and preferably of about 33 cl;

the drink-through spout cap is attached to the bottle in being connectedto its neck, the cover covering the drink-through spout cap; ashrink-wrap can surround the cover;

the opening provided on the bottle's neck is closed by a bottle membraneseal;

the lip is provided with a protrusion adapted to pierce the membraneseal.

The invention concerns also a method of manufacturing a drinking device,comprising the following steps:

-   -   a) providing a bottle having a neck and filled at least partly        with a beverage,    -   b) providing a drink-through spout cap as above mentioned, and    -   c) connecting the drink-through spout cap on the neck.

When the bottle is provided empty, the method comprises a step offilling the bottle at least partly with a beverage. When the bottle isprovided filled with the beverage, the method of manufacturing adrinking device further comprises the step of unsealing the neck of thebottle.

This method of manufacturing a drinking device can further comprise thestep of providing the drink-through spout cap with a membrane sealand/or the step of covering the drink-through spout cap with a cover. Itcan further comprise the step of covering the cover with a shrink-wrapand/or the step of sealing the neck of the bottle with a bottle membraneseal.

The invention concerns also a method of preparing a drinking device,comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing a bottle covered by a usual cap and filled at least        partly with a beverage,    -   providing a drink-through spout cap,    -   unsealing the bottle by removing the usual cap provided on it,        and threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the        drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle,        or    -   unsealing the bottle by tearing off the membrane seal and        threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the        drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle,        or    -   unsealing the bottle by piercing the membrane seal while        threading the threaded region of the sidewall of the        drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of the bottle.

The method of preparing a drinking device can further comprise the stepof providing a cover onto the drink-through spout cap and/or the step ofunsealing the bottle by tearing off the bottle membrane seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readilyappear from the following description of one embodiment, provided asnon-limitative examples, in reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-throughspout cap according to the invention, the drink-through spout cap beingattached to a beverage bottle and the cover being removed from the cap.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-throughspout cap of FIG. 1A, in which the cover and the cap are removed fromthe bottle.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a set of a cover and a drink-throughspout cap of FIG. 1A, in which the cover is covering the cap.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a pack according to the invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a pack according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according tothe invention.

FIG. 3B is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 3C is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 3D is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the drink-through spout cap according to theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according tothe invention, mounted onto a bottle and covered with a cover.

FIG. 7 is a view in section of the drink-through spout cap according tothe invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of detail VIII of FIG. 7.

On the different Figures, the same reference signs designate identicalor similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1A illustrates a drink-through spout cap 10 for a beverage bottle12. The beverage bottle 12 has a cylindrical body 14 extending along alongitudinal axis X-X and has a cylindrical neck 16. More precisely, theillustrated example shows a bottle having a shape of a cylinder ofrevolution, but the shape may be of any kind since it is a drinkingbottle. Besides, the section can be circular or square, etc. As bestseen of FIG. 1B, the neck 16 is provided with an opening 17 and has adiameter D16 which is smaller than the diameter D14 of the body 14 ofthe bottle. Actually, the diameter D16 of the neck of the bottlesconcerns with the present invention is less than half of the diameterD14 of the body 14 of the bottle 12.

The bottle 12 is more specifically a bottle of water or infant beverageand is preferably made of PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate), morespecifically by blow molding or injection stretch blow molding a PETpreform. The bottle 12 has preferably a capacity of 75 cl maximum andmore preferably of 33 cl to be taken in baby's hands. This kind of waterbottles are very light (from preform weight comprised between 10 g and15 g e.g. for bottles of 33 cl or from preform weight comprised between9 g and 15 g for bottles of 50 cl) since the thickness of the body 14 ofthe bottle 12 (except possibly the bottom of it) is much thinner thanthe thickness of the neck 16.

FIG. 1C illustrates the drink-through spout cap 10 attached to thebeverage bottle 12 and covered by a cover 18. Both the drink-throughspout cap 10 and the cover 18 can be made of polyethylene for instance.However, it is preferable that they are made of polypropylene, such thatthey can be boiled at 100° C. to be sterilized if needed.

A shrink-wrap 22 can cover the cover 18 to protect it from dust and anyother kind of dirt. This shrink-wrap 22 is also a tamper evidence andprevents also the cover 18 to be unintentionally removed from thedrink-through spout cap 10. Two rows of precuts 24 can be provided onthe shrink-wrap 22 to facilitate the opening of the last by tearing offthe tongue 26 formed between the rows of precuts 24.

One of this drink-through spout cap 10 or preferably one of this set 20comprising one cover 18 and one drink-through spout cap 10 can beprovided in a package comprising at least two beverage bottles 12 asabove mentioned. Besides, the set 20 can be protected with a shrink-wrap22.

Actually according to the number of beverage bottles 12 contained in thepack, the number of sets can vary. For instance, a pack of two beveragebottles can contain one set and as illustrated on FIG. 2A, two sets arepreferably provided in a pack of six beverage bottles 12. Besides, sucha pack 28 of bottles 12 and of at least one set 20 is preferably coveredby a package shrink-wrap 28.

When the pack 28 is provided with a number of set(s) 20 inferior to thenumber of bottles 14, the bottles are sealed by the usual cap 30 (whichis not a drink-through spout cap). The pack 28 can also be provided witha number of sets 20 equal to the number of bottles contained in the pack28 (e.g. six sets 20 with six bottles, etc.) forming six drinkingdevices 15 (not illustrated). In that 0case, the bottles can be closedwith the sets which can be W0rapped with the shrink-wrap 22 mentionedabove (one set being connected to one bottle) or the sets can just becomprised in the pack 28, without being mounted on the bottles 14, thelast being closed by their usual cap 30. The opening 17 of the bottles12 can otherwise or in complement to the usual cap 30 be provided with abottle membrane seal 31 closing tightly the neck 16 as illustrated onFIG. 2B. The bottle membrane seal 31 can be made of plastic and/ormetallic material.

When the drink-through spout cap 10 is tightly attached to the neck 16of a bottle 14, it forms a drinking device 15. More precisely and asbest illustrated on FIGS. 3 and 4, the drink-through spout cap 10comprises a top wall 32 which can be substantially flat and acylindrical sidewall 34 extending therefrom and having a sidewall lengthL34. The top wall 32 is provided with a spout 36 or sipper which extendstherefrom opposite from the sidewall 34. More precisely, the sidewall 34extends in one direction, whereas the spout 36 extends in the oppositedirection with regards to the top wall 32.

As best illustrated on FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 5, the spout 36 which ispreferably eccentrically positioned toward the sidewall 34 has at leastone aperture 38 formed therein, to allow the beverage contained in thebottle 14 onto which the drink-through spout cap 10 is attached to flowthrough. Actually, the spout 36 comprises a front wall 37, an upper wall39 and a lower wall 41. The upper 39 and lower 41 walls are connectedtogether and extend both from the top wall 32 of the drink-through spoutcap 10 toward the front wall 37. The upper wall 39 is preferablysubstantially flat but could also be curved, whereas the lower wall 41is preferably curved. Actually, the upper wall 39 is adapted to be incontact with the upper lip of a baby's mouth, whereas the lower wall 41is adapted to be in contact with the lower lip of a baby's mouth.Besides, the upper wall 39 is preferably inclined of an angle α withreference to the longitudinal axis X-X. The value of the angle α iscomprised between 10° and 40°, preferably of about 12°.

The eccentricity e36 of the spout 36 can be assessed with regards to thedistance between the upper wall 39 at the front wall 37 and the center Oof the drink-through spout cap 10. More precisely, the eccentricity e36can be comprised between 0 mm and 6 mm, preferably of about 5 mm.

Besides, the spout 36 has preferably three apertures 38 rather than one.The apertures 38 are provided on the upper wall of the spout 36 and arepreferably aligned and spaced one from the other with a gap G38 of about2.95 mm. The three apertures 38 can preferably be circular and have adiameter D38 of about 1.2 mm or more preferably of about 1.4 mm, so thatthe beverage contained in the bottle and especially water flows at acorrect rate for a baby, neither too fast nor too low. Actually, inorder to obtain a good flow, the global section of the apertures whichcan be comprised between one and five apertures should be comprisedbetween 3.5 mm² and 6 mm².

Coming back to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4, the sidewall 34 has an innersurface 34A and an outer surface 34B, the inner surface 34A beingprovided with a threaded region 40 adapted to engage the threaded region42 of the beverage bottle 14 as best illustrated on FIG. 6.

Besides, the drink-through spout cap 10 and more precisely the threadedregion 40 has an internal cylindrical lip 44 extending from the top wall32 and has a lip height H32 which is smaller than a half of the sidewalllength L34, more precisely the lip height H32 is preferably smaller thanone third of the sidewall length L34. Actually, the lip height H32 ispreferably comprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, more preferably of about3.5 mm, whereas the sidewall length L34 is preferably comprised between5 mm and 17 mm, more preferably of about 9.8 mm.

The sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 has an internaldiameter D34 comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm, more preferably of about29.6 mm and an external diameter D′34 comprised between 27 mm and 43 mm,more preferably of about 31.6 mm. Besides, the threaded region 40 of theinner surface of the sidewall 34 is preferably with a three-startthreaded ring 46 extending radially inwards and has an internal diameterD46 comprised between 27 mm and 35 mm, more preferably of about 28.1 mm.

In order to prevent dust and/or other contamination of getting insidethe drink-through spout cap 10 before use, one or several cap membraneseal(s) can be provided on it.

More precisely, a first cap membrane seal 33A can be provided on the topof front wall 37 of the spout. This first cap membrane seal 33A can bethermo-mechanically or thermo-chemically sealed on the front wall 37 (bystuck or by melt) and/or it can be mechanically hold on the spoutespecially when it is provided with corresponding protrusions locatedinside the apertures 38 as illustrated on FIG. 3A.

A second cap membrane seal 33′A can be provided on the free end of thesidewall 34 in complement or in replacement of the first cap membraneseal 33A. Like for the first cap membrane seal 33A, this second capmembrane seal 33′A can be thermo-mechanically sealed on the sidewall 34as illustrated on FIG. 3A and/or can be mechanically hold inside thesidewall 34 by jamming.

Actually, the second cap membrane seal 33B illustrated on FIG. 3B isjammed in the interior of the sidewall 34 and the second cap membraneseal 33C illustrated on FIG. 3C or on FIG. 3D is jammed in the interiorof the lip 44. Actually, the cap membrane seal 33C can be jammed in theinterior of the lip 44 in being near the free end of the last asillustrated on FIG. 3C or can be jammed in the bottom of the lip 44 asillustrated on FIG. 3D. In that case, the cap membrane seal 33C isjammed in the interior of the lip 44 until it arrives against the inwardface 32A of the top wall 32. The cap membrane seal 33C preferably bearsalso against a part of the spout 36, more precisely against a part ofthe lower wall 41.

One should understand that these cap membrane seals can be hold bysticking and/or jamming.

These cap membrane seals can also have a function of sealing thedrinking device 15 when the drink-through spout cap 10 is connected tothe neck 16 of a bottle 12.

The neck 16 of the bottle 12 is formed by a cylindrical annular wall 48extending around the longitudinal axis X-X at the bottom edge or rim16A. The threaded region 42 of the bottle 12 begins preferably at acertain distance below the bottom edge 16A. Like for the drink-throughspout cap 10, the threaded region 42 of the bottle 12 has acorresponding three-start threaded ring 50 preferably separated byangles of 120° which makes the drink-through spout cap 10 easier toscrew on and off the bottle 12. The three-start threaded ring 50comprises three threads extend radially outwards and asymmetrical inprofile, with an inclined longitudinally upper face to allow the cap tobe fitted in a known manner along the longitudinal axis X-X.

The three-start threaded ring 46 of the drink-through spout cap 10 is ofcourse complementary to the three-start threaded ring 50 of the bottle12 to allow the two to be screwed together. According to the value ofthe diameters of this complementary threaded regions an elasticdeformation occurs; therefore, the complementary threaded regions formmore or less a first barrier member between the drink-through spout cap10 and the bottle 12, thereby limiting or even preventing the ingress ofexternal contaminants into the space between the outer face of the neck16 and the inner face of the drink-through spout cap 10.

Actually, the drink-through spout cap 10 can be screwed down until theinward face 32A of the top wall 32 meets the rim 16A of the neck 16, theinward face 32A forming a sealing bead for contact all around theperimeter of the rim 16A of the neck 16 of the bottle 16. This contactwhich is plane and transversal to the longitudinal axis X-X leads to thecreation of a radial elastic deformation of the sidewall 34 of thedrink-through spout cap 10 so that the pressure applied by said bead tothe rim 16A is significant and there is no gap between them. This alsoallows the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 to absorbcertain variations in the outside diameter of the neck 16. Thus, saidbead forms a second barrier member between the drink-through spout cap10 and the bottle 12, thereby gradually limiting or even preventing theingress of external contaminants into the space between the outer faceof the neck 16 and the inner face of the drink-through spout cap 10.

Besides, the neck 16 has an annular a tamper-evident collar 52 locatedbeneath the three-start threaded ring 50. This collar 52 has a shape ofan annular protuberance projecting radially outwards from the neckoutermost surface. A collar of this kind is normally designed to engagewith a tamper-evident band connected to the usual cap 30 and to retainthe tamper-evident band.

Actually, when the drink-through spout cap 10 is sold directly attachedon a bottle in being connected to its neck (no usual cap is provided) itforms a drinking device 15. In that case, the drink-through spout cap 10can be provided with a tamper-evident band 35 as depicted on FIG. 6.This tamper-evident band 35 is engaged around the bottle 12 against thecollar 52 in an analogous manner as the tamper-evident band provided forusual caps. This tamper-evident band 35 allows the user to know whetherthe drink-through spout cap 10 was previously removed from the neck ofthe bottle 12.

A second collar 54 defining the bottom edge 16B of the neck 16 islocated at a distance from this first collar 52. This second collar 54is usually of a larger outside diameter and of a smaller height and isespecially used for carrying the bottles.

The lip 44 of the drink-through spout cap 10 extends downwards from thetop wall 32 of the drink-through spout cap 10 and has a circumferentialprofile adapted to make contact with the interior of the annular wall 56of the neck 16 of the bottle 12 and thus form a first sealing means. Theshape of the lip 44 is adapted to make contact with the rim 16A of thebottle 12.

The top wall 32 of the drink-through spout cap 10 is preferably circularand the sidewall 34 is preferably cylindrical.

Besides, the outer surface 34B of the sidewall 34 is preferably providedwith a finger grip 58. This finger grip 58 can be provided with aplurality of thin longitudinal serrations 60 as illustrated on FIG. 1A.This finger grip 58 allows the drink-through spout cap 10 to be bettergripped especially when mounted onto the neck 16 of the bottle 12.

This finger grip 58 allows also the cover 18 to be better retained onit, since the cover 18 cooperated with said finger grip 58. Moreprecisely, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the internal diameter D18 ofthe cover 18 has a value comprised between 31 mm and 32 mm, preferablyof about 31.8 mm so that it can be pushed on the external diameter D′34of the drink-through spout cap 10. An internal and circular rim 61 isprovided on the free end of the cover 18 and has a diameter D61comprised between 31 mm and 31.5 mm, preferably of about 31.4 mm, suchthat the cover 18 can be elastically rose in strength onto the outersurface 34B of the drink-through spout cap 10.

Besides, a circular rim 62 provided on the free end of the outer surface34B of the drink-through spout cap 10 can cooperate with the rim 61 andthus prevents the cover 18 from being too much pushed on thedrink-through spout cap 10 and thus prevents the apertures 38 to bedamaged. Thus, cover 18 can be push-fitted over the drink-through spoutcap 10 to protect the spout 36 in cooperating with the sidewall 34.

The cover 18 can further be provided with at least one internallongitudinal serration 64 provided inside the cover 18 as bestillustrated on FIG. 1A. When a plurality of serrations is provided, theyare preferably distributed equidistantly. These serrations 64 cancooperate with the serrations 60 provided on the drink-through spout cap10. The number of serrations is preferably comprised between one and anumber equal to the number of serrations 60 provided on thedrink-through spout cap 10, preferably between one and five.

These serrations 64 allow the cover 18 to be attached onto a bottle 12simultaneous with the drink-through spout cap 10. Besides, when thecover 18 is covering the drink-through spout cap 10 and the circular rim62 cooperates with the rim 61, the force needed to open the cover 18 iscomprised between 0.5 N.m and 1.6 N.m. In that case, an adult can openthe cover, but a baby is not capable to remove the cover 18 from thedrink-through spout cap 10.

As explained above, the drink-through spout cap 10 can be provideddirectly mounted on a bottle 12 (forming a drinking device 15) or can beseparately provided on a bottle 12 or on in a pack of bottles 12.

When the drink-through spout cap 10 is not mounted on the bottle 12,several methods of preparing a drinking device 15 can be achievedaccording to the sealing means provided on the bottle.

More precisely, when the bottle 12 is sealed by a usual cap 30 asillustrated on FIG. 2A, the method comprises the step of unsealing thebottle by removing the usual cap 30 provided on it, and then threadingthe threaded region 40 of the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap10 onto the threaded region 42 of the bottle 12. The bottle 12 is ofcourse in that case filled at least partly with a beverage, such thatafter having connected the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the bottle12, the drinking device 15 is ready to be used.

When the bottle 12 is sealed by a bottle membrane seal 31 as illustratedon FIG. 2B, the method comprises the step of unsealing the bottle 12 bytearing off the bottle membrane seal 31 and then threading the threadedregion 40 of the sidewall 34 of the drink-through spout cap 10 onto thethreaded region 42 of the bottle 12.

When the drink-through spout cap 10 is provided with one or moremembrane seal 33′A, 33B and/or 33C, they are of course removed from itbefore the drink-through spout cap 10 is connected onto the neck 16 ofthe bottle 12. The first membrane seal 33A which is provided on thefront wall of the spout 36 can be removed before or after thedrink-through spout cap 10 is connected onto the neck 16 of the bottle12 since it is not sealing the neck 16 of the bottle 12.

After the drink-through spout cap 10 is mounted onto a bottle it can beused especially by a baby which can put the spout 36 in his/her mouthfor drinking the beverage contained in the bottle 12. The cover 18 canbe push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap 10 to protect the spout36. For a further use, the user has just to remove the cover 18 from thedrink-through spout cap 10 by pulling it possibly while turning it andthe drinking device 15 is ready for use. After drinking, the cover 18can be replaced in the drink-through spout cap 10.

Of course, when the drink-through spout cap 10 or more precisely thecover 18 is covered with a the shrink-wrap 22 above mentioned it ispreliminary necessary to removed it before using in tearing off thetongue 26.

When the drink-through spout cap 10 is sold directly mounted on a bottle12 as a drinking device 15, the method of manufacturing the drinkingdevice 15 comprises the step of providing a bottle 12 having a neck 16.The bottle 12 can be prefilled with a beverage or can be filled with thelast during the method of manufacturing the drinking device 15. Thefilling is preferably made under aseptic conditions.

When the bottle 12 is provided prefilled with the beverage, it can besealed with either a usual cap 30 and/or a bottle membrane seal 31. Inthat case, the method of manufacturing the drinking device furthercomprises the step of unsealing the neck of the bottle. This means that

The next step of the method is providing a drink-through spout cap 10according to the invention and connecting it on the neck 16 of thebottle.

When the drink-through spout cap 10 is provided with a tamper-evidentband 35, the method of manufacturing the drinking device also comprisesthe step of connecting the drink-through spout cap 10 on the neck of thebottle such that the tamper-evident band 35 engaged around the bottle 12against the collar 52.

The method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 can also comprise thestep of providing the drink-through spout cap 10 with one or more capmembrane seal 33A, 33′A, 33B and/or 33C. When the drink-through spoutcap 10 is provided with one of the cap membrane seal 33′A, 33B and/or33C, the method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 comprises alsothe step of removing said cap membrane seal 33′A, 33B and 33C, beforeconnecting the drink-through spout cap 10 onto the bottle 12. The capmembrane seal 33A remains preferably on the spout until the drinkingdevice 15 is used.

The method of manufacturing the drinking device 15 can also comprise thestep of covering the drink-through spout cap 10 with a cover 18 forprotecting the drink-through spout cap 10 from dust and/orcontamination. A shrink-wrap 22 can also be provided, the last step ofthe method being in that case the step of covering the cover 18 with theshrink-wrap 22.

1-29. (canceled)
 30. A drink-through spout cap for a beverage bottlehaving a body and a neck provided with an opening, wherein thedrink-through spout cap has a substantially flat top wall and a sidewallextending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall beingprovided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewalland which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall havingan inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being providedwith a threaded region adapted to engage a threaded region of the neckof a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top walland has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length.31. A drink-through spout cap according to the claim 30, wherein thethreaded region of the inner surface of the sidewall is a three-startthreaded ring.
 32. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30,wherein the sidewall of the drink-through spout cap is cylindrical andhas an internal diameter comprised between 25 mm and 40 mm.
 33. Adrink-through spout cap according to claim 30, wherein the lip height iscomprised between 0.1 mm and 5 mm.
 34. A drink-through spout capaccording to claim 30, wherein the spout comprises a front wall, anupper wall and a lower wall, the upper and lower walls being connectedtogether and extending both from the top wall of the drink-through spoutcap, wherein the upper wall is substantially flat and the lower wall iscurved and wherein the front wall is provided with the at least oneaperture.
 35. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30, whereinthe spout is provided with three apertures.
 36. A drink-through spoutcap according to claim 30, wherein the spout is eccentrically positionedtoward the sidewall.
 37. A drink-through spout cap according to claim30, wherein the material of the drink-through spout cap comprises apolypropylene or a polyethylene.
 38. A drink-through spout cap accordingto claim 30, wherein the outer surface of the sidewall is provided witha finger grip.
 39. A drink-through spout cap according to claim 30,further comprising a cap membrane seal.
 40. A set of a cover and adrink-through spout cap according to claim 30, the cover being adaptedto be push-fitted over the drink-through spout cap to protect the spoutin cooperating with the sidewall.
 41. A set according to claim 40,wherein the cover is mounted on the drink-through spout cap and issurrounded by a shrink-warp.
 42. A set of a cover and a drink-throughspout cap according to claim 40, wherein the material of the covercomprises a polypropylene or a polyethylene.
 43. A pack of at least twobeverage bottles comprising at least one drink-through spout capaccording to claim 30, or a set according to claim
 39. 44. A packaccording to claim 43, wherein the at least two beverage bottles aresealed with a usual cap.
 45. A drinking device comprising a beveragebottle and a drink-through spout cap according to claim 30 or a setaccording to claim 39, said bottle having a body and a neck providedwith an opening and a threaded region, said bottle being at leastpartially filled with a beverage.
 46. A drinking device according toclaim 45, wherein the material of the bottle comprises a PET.
 47. Adrinking device according to claim 45, wherein the bottle has a capacitycomprised between 15 cl and 75 cl.
 48. A drinking device according toclaim 45, wherein the drink-through spout cap is connected to thebottle, the cover covering the drink-through spout cap.
 49. A drinkingdevice according to claim 48, wherein a shrink-wrap surrounds the cover.50. A drinking device according to claim 45, wherein the openingprovided on the bottle's neck is closed by a bottle membrane seal.
 51. Amethod of manufacturing a drinking device, comprising the followingsteps: a) providing a bottle having a neck and filled at least partiallywith a beverage, b) providing a drink-through spout cap for a beveragebottle having a body and a neck provided with an opening, wherein thedrink-through spout cap has a substantially flat top wall and a sidewallextending therefrom and having a sidewall length, the top wall beingprovided with a spout which extends therefrom opposite from the sidewalland which has at least one aperture formed therein, the sidewall havingan inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being providedwith a threaded region adapted to engage a threaded region of the neckof a beverage bottle, wherein an internal lip extends from the top walland has a lip height which is smaller than half of the sidewall length,c) connecting the drink-through spout cap on the neck.
 52. A method ofmanufacturing a drinking device according to claim 51, furthercomprising the step of providing the drink-through spout cap with a capseal membrane.
 53. A method of manufacturing a drinking device accordingto claim 51, further comprising the step of covering the drink-throughspout cap with a cover.
 54. A method of manufacturing a drinking deviceaccording to claim 53, further comprising the step of covering the coverwith a shrink-wrap.
 55. A method of manufacturing a drinking deviceaccording to claim 51, further comprising the step of unsealing the neckof the bottle.
 56. A method of preparing a drinking device, comprisingthe following steps: providing a bottle covered by a usual cap filled atleast partly with a beverage, unsealing the bottle by removing the usualcap provided on it, providing a drink-through spout cap drink-throughspout cap for a beverage bottle having a body and a neck provided withan opening, wherein the drink-through spout cap has a substantially flattop wall and a sidewall extending therefrom and having a sidewalllength, the top wall being provided with a spout which extends therefromopposite from the sidewall and which has at least one aperture formedtherein, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, theinner surface being provided with a threaded region adapted to engage athreaded region of the neck of a beverage bottle, wherein an internallip extends from the top wall and has a lip height which is smaller thanhalf of the sidewall length, and threading the threaded region of thesidewall of the drink-through spout cap onto the threaded region of thebottle.
 57. A method of preparing a drinking device according to claim56, further comprising the step of providing a cover onto thedrink-through spout cap.
 58. A method of preparing a drinking deviceaccording to claim 56, further comprising the step of unsealing thebottle by tearing off the bottle membrane seal.